Science

Students will continue to develop their understanding of the four disciplinary core ideas in the biological sciences throughout the school year. The high school performance expectations in Biology allow high school students to explain more in depth phenomena central not only to the biological sciences, but to Earth and space sciences and the physical sciences as well. These performance expectations blend the core ideas with scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to support students in developing useable knowledge to explain ideas across the science disciplines.

Students develop understanding of a wide range of topics in Biology by using the science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts in Unit 1: From Molecules to Organisms students will use investigations to gather evidence to support explanations of cell function. They will develop understanding of the role of proteins in cells and living systems. Students will also use models to explain photosynthesis, respiration, and the cycling of matter and the flow of energy in living systems. In Unit 2: Heredity, students will use science and engineering practices to explain the genetic variation in a population and why individuals of the same species vary in how they look, function, and behave. Students will explain the mechanism of genetic inheritance and describe the environmental and genetic causes of gene mutation and the alteration of gene expressions. In Unit 3: Biological Evolution, students will use the science and engineering practices to explain the processes of natural selection and evolution. They will be able to communicate how multiple lines of evidence support the explanations for these processes. Students will understand the role of genetic variation in natural selection and use probability to explain trends in populations with respect to advantageous heritable traits in specific environments. In Unit 4: Ecosystems, students will use science and engineering practices to demonstrate understanding of fundamental ecological concepts including carrying capacity, biodiversity, the cycling of matter, and the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Students will also develop design solutions for reducing the impact of human activities in the environment and maintaining biodiversity.

Students will continue to develop their understanding of the disciplinary core ideas in the physical and Earth sciences throughout the school year. The high school performance expectations in physical science and Earth science allow high school students to explain more in depth phenomena central to this discipline as well as to the life sciences. These performance expectations blend the core ideas with scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to support students in developing useable knowledge to explain ideas across the science disciplines.

In Unit 1: Elements: From Stars to Atoms, students will explore the formation and transformation of elements in stars. Students will model changes to an atom’s nucleus, describing the energy released during the processes of fusion, fission, and radioactive decay.

In Unit 2: Bonding: Environmental Chemistry, students will engage in argumentation using evidence to explain how bond formation, shape, polarity, and intermolecular forces influence the properties and behavior of materials.

In Unit 3: Chemical Reactions: Students will use the science and engineering practices to plan and carry out an investigation to explore how molecules interact with one another through chemical reactions while conserving mass and energy. Students will describe how the mathematical representations support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.

In Unit 4: Thermochemistry: Energy Flow & Consumption, students will demonstrate their knowledge of chemical reactions and energy change during the reactions. Students will use molecular models to diagram the change in the arrangement of atoms and number and types of bonds before and after reactions.

In Unit 5:Reaction Rates, Equilibrium, and Acids: Water Chemistry, students will plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water, solubility, solutions, & concentration and its effects of changing the temperature or concentration of a reaction.